Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Pell-Mell At Maumelle
FARMINGTON GIRLS BOW OUT IN STATE QUARTERFINAL
MAUMELLE — Fouls on Farmington down the stretch thwarted a Lady Cardinal comeback during a season-ending 62-56 loss to Little Rock Parkview in Friday’s state tournament quarterfinal.
Farmington had opportunities but couldn’t capitalize. Anthea Jones’ deflection caused a steal that created a fast-break but Joelle Tidwell’s bucket was erased by a controversial charging call, her fourth foul. Still, Makenna Vanzant sank 3-of-4 free throws keeping the Lady Cardinals within 51-48 with 3:16 left in the game, which could have been tied had the foul against Tidwell gone the other way.
Twelve seconds went by and Tidwell fouled out as Parkview’s Kania Lasker passed to Dynasty McGraw for a 3-point play doubling Parkview’s lead at 54-48. Continuing to battle, Vanzant penetrated the paint. Her shot was off, but Farmington got the rebound only to have Jaida Bangura block the shot. Parkview added one free throw and following a traveling call against Farmington, Bangura scored on a broken play after Madisyn Pense tipped a pass that landed in her hands.
Once more Farmington bit into the lead. Vanzant, who had only a single point after three quarters, converted a 3-point play off a drive. Desiree Bumpers turned the ball over with an offensive foul, her fifth. Farmington shot quickly with Alexis Roach taking a three. She missed, but Vanzant scored on the offensive glass and added a free throw as Bangura fouled out. The hoop and harm made the contest a one score game with Farmington within 57-54 with 55 seconds remaining, but the Lady Cardinals could not get any closer.
Parkview senior guards Lasker (18) and Mikayla Alexander (16) combined for 34 points. Bangura was also in double figures with 10 points for Parkview while junior guard Kaylan Larry added 9. Parkview’s shooting wasn’t that great. The Lady Patriots were 22-of-52 from the field, 4-of-17 behind the 3-point arc and 14-of-26 at the free-throw line, but the 3-pointers the Lady Patriots did hit were devastating.
Parkview’s Kaylan Larry hit her only field goal of the game, a 3-pointer with 3:55 left in the second quarter cut Farmington’s lead to 20-19. Twice 3-pointers went down during a 22-2 Parkview run over a 6:45 span of the third and fourth periods.
Alexander hit a trey with 1:45 to go in the third trimming Farmington’s lead to 43-41. Lasker stole away Farmington’s next possession and went in for a layup to tie the game. The teams traded turnovers, then Farmington lost the ball again which led to Alexander’s old-fashioned 3-point play, the last of her 11 points in the third quarter, that put the Lady Patriots ahead, 46-43, at the end of the third.
Lasker’s only made three of the game came 29 seconds into the fourth quarter. Parkview spread the court nursing the lead, then Lasker drove the lane and fed Bangura for a layup to conclude the 22-2 run ending with the Lady Patriots ahead 51-43.
Farmington outrebounded 31-23 Parkview but it didn’t seem like that for those watching the game. The Lady Patriots at times got three or four shots on a possession.
“All heart, all heart,” Parkview Coach Lahoma Howard said. “They played hard and dug down deep for me. We came out slow, missed some shots and turned it over some. Nerves may have had something to do with that, but I called a timeout, and they settled down. I couldn’t be any prouder right now.”
Junior forward Alexis Roach had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady Cardinals. Pense added 14 points. Farmington shot 13-of-37 from the field, getting 15 fewer shots off than Parkview. The Lady Cardinals were 6 of 20 in the second half after leading 30-23 at halftime.
PARKVIEW 62, FARMINGTON 56
Parkview 7 16 23 16 — 62 Farmington 12 18 13 13 — 56 Parkview (20-9): Kania Lasker 8 1-5 18, Mikayla Alexander 5 4-4 16, Jaida Bangura 5 0-2 10, Kaylan Larry 1 6-8 9, Dynasty McGraw 3 1-3 7, Jumil Grant 0 1-2 1, Jordyn Williams 0 1-2 1. Totals 22 14-26 62.
Farmington (26-6): Alexis Roach 3 9-12 15, Madisyn Pense 5 0-0 14, Makenna Vanzant 2 6-10 10, Joelle Tidwell 1 4-4 6, Camryn Journagan 2 1-2 5, Anthea Jones 0 4-4 4, Eliza Ball 0 2-2 2. Totals 13 26-34 62. 3-Point Goals — Parkview 4-17 (Alexander 2-6, Larry 1-3, Lasker 1-8). Farmington 4 (Pense 4). Rebounds — Parkview 23 (Desiree Bumpers 6). Assists — Parkview 8 (Lasker 4). Steals — Parkview 9 (Lasker 4). Blocks — Parkview. Turnovers — Parkview 7. Total Fouls — Parkview 27, Farmington 25. Fouled out — Alexander, Bumpers, Bangura, Tidwell.